What is xanthan gum?

 I know that every one wonders why do we have to use xantan gum in all our baking. Here is the reason. Xantan gum is your binder in simple form. What it is made from? When the tiny microorganism called Xanthomonas Campestris is allowed to grow under the right conditions, it builds a protective covering around itself, a cell coat that possesses very special properties. If the organism is grown in a laboratory, large amounts of this cell coat can be removed by a chemical process ,dried, and milled to form a powder called Xanthan gum. The cell coat of the organism is somewhat similar to the protective shell surrounding a peanut. Both are polysaccharides, which means that they are long chains of simple sugars linked together. But they are joined by links that the human intestine cannot split apart. This means that they are not readily absorbed and that very few of the sugar units can be used by our cells for energy. Thus, the caloric value of xanthan gum is very low. It provides only 0.5 kcal per gram, one eighth of the amount provided by sugars that our bodies can fully utilize. Each tablespoon contains about eight calories. OK that is allot to say in big words so if you look at the ingredients on what you have all ready  precooked ready to eat. You will see that xantan gum is in it. It is commonly used in cakes, breads, baked goods, sauces,and even soups. Amazing what this expensive powder can do. I hope that this will help you see why we have to use xantan gum. have a great night.
Pamela